Orchard ladder with adjustable platform and fruit receiving means



Oct. 27, 1953 H. TIDWELL 2,656,968

ORCHARD LADDER WITH ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM AND FRUIT RECEIVING MEANS FiledNov. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l Huber! 77dwel/ INVENTOR.

Oct. 27, 1953 TlDWELL 2,656,968

H. ORCHARD LADDER WITH ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM AND FRUIT RECEIVING MEANSFiled NOV. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /42 w I6K/42 H6 Q B8 22 Fig. /6 30y Huberf 77'0'wel/ INVENTOR.

Oct. 27, 1953 H. TIDWELL 2,656,968

ORCHARD LADDER WITH ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM AND FRUIT RECEIVING MEANS FiledNov. 26,- 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 52 Hubert T idwel/ INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 ORCHARD LADDER WITH ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM AND FRUITRECEIVING MEANS Hubert Tidwell, Wellington, Utali Application November26, 1951, Serial No. 258,110

17 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a portable apparatus Which isconstructed and especially designed to assist one in having practicaland readily available access to the limbs of a fruit tree while pruning,thinning and picking and collecting fruit, the same being characterizedby a safe and reliable self-standing orchard ladder and an arrangementof handy and reliable facilities mounted on the ladder in a manner toprovide the user with all necessary equipment to cover an appreciableWorking area without having to repeatedly dismount and shift theposition of the ladder.

Those engaged in the work of picking fruit and attending to pruning andthinning activities are full well aware of the time element andlaborious factors involved in connection therewith. Climbing up and downthe ladder and changing the position of the same in relation to thebranches of the tree is in itself conducive to fatigue and wasted timeand effort. Seeking to cope with the currently neglected problem, oneobjective of the herein disclosed apparatus is to provide an orchardladder and associated devices Which will overcome the likelihood of theladder tipping over and will consequently relieve the user of the nowattending fear of tumbling from the ladder.

It follows therefore that one aspect of the over-all apparatus is toprovide an orchard ladder with appropriatelyconstructed and arrangedprop means whereby the ladder may be erected on and satisfactorilysupported from uneven terrain.

Another difiiculty with orchard ladders is that the standing room atopthe ladder is undesirably restricted which results in time lost in con-:stantly shifting the ladder to enable the range of activity to meetever var ing work requirements. It is, therefore, another objective ofthe instant invention to provide means which may be attached to theupper portion of the ladder and which has to do with a platform on whichthe picker stands, said platform being unique in that it may be raisedor lowered and, what is more important, may be adjusted in a horizontalplan about a vertical pivot and retained at given positions in acircular path, making it possible for the picker to rove around andlocate himself at varying positions of vantage for full rangeactivities.

A further object of the invention has to do with upright means which isswivelly mounted atop the orchard ladder wherein said means constitutesa support for the pickers platform and platform is in its low position,the upper por-- tion of the tube projects to an elevation above the sameand extends to Waist-high level, mak ing it possible for the user tostraddle the tube while occupying the platform and to in this man"- nerstabilize himself and to conveniently drop the picked fruit forcollection in said tube, the

latter having means at its upper end which, if desired, may support anextra bucket to increase the load before descending and emptying thesame into transporting containers.

A still further object of the invention. pertains to supporting theplatform means, the tube and the platform thereon, by way of a novelladder attachment which is characterized by a bridlelike fram structureslidably harnessed on the ladder stiles and locked in position byexisting means on the ladder stiles and having a platform below thefirst-named platform whereby the user may descend the ladder, detach thetube and empty its contents into a container.

With further reference to the preceding object it is to be pointed outthat the frame structure is novel in that it embodies friction brakemeans characterized by a brake shoe which bridges the ladder stiles,said brake means being brought into braking position by the lower end ofthe aforementioned tube, the latter being operatively connected with thebrake shoe and rockably mounted on the platform of the frame structureso that it becomes in effect an operating lever for applying andcontrolling the brake to regulate the descent of both platform andloaded tube.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the use of brake means in the framestructure which is characterized by a yoke which includes the brake shoeand also provides lug-like detents, the latter being associable withprojecting heads on the exterior surfaces of the ladder stiles wherebysaid heads may be employed as keepers for the detents so that when thedetents are engaged with the keepers the frame structure is positivelyretained in an established position on the ladder, either at the medianor top portion of the ladder as existing picking conditions require.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following 3 description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative drawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a fra mentary type and withportions appearing in section, showing the complete apparatus and themanner in which the over-all attachment means is used;

Figure 2 is an elevational View of the same observing the structure in adirection from right to left;

Figure 3 is a top plan view showing, in dot-dash lines the approximatemanner in which the rotatable pickers platform is selectively moved todesired picking positions;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the horizontal line l of Figure1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view taken on thevertical line '5-5 'of Figure 2,1ooking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-45 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view onthe line 5-1 of Figure 5; V Figure 8 is an elevational view of one ofthe details;

Figure 9 is a section on the horizontal line 9-9 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a section on the irregular line llllll of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an exaggerated detail view on the horizontal line l [-4 lof Figure 10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail section on the line l2-l2 of Figure 1;

Figure 13 is a view at right angles thereto on the line l3|3 of Figure12;

Figure 14 is a section on the line I l-M of Figure 3;

Figure 15 is an elevational view of the pickers platform brace unit;

Figure 16 is a section on the line l6-l6 of Figure 15;

Figure 1'7 is an enlarged cross section on the line lll'l of Figure 4;and

Figure 18 is a fragmentary detail section showing the manner ofattaching a portion of one of the members of the brace unit seen inFigure 15.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals and accompanyinglead lines, the orchard ladder is denoted by the numeral 29 andcomprises convergin stiles or rails 2222 with intervening steps 26. Thesteps, as best shown in Figure 5, are held in place by horizontal rods26 passing through the steps and stiles and additional reinforcing rods28 which underlie the steps and also pass through the stiles. The headedend portions of these are spaced apart in the manner shown in Figure 10for a purpose tobe hereinafter described. Since, however, the heads onrods 28 serve as stops or keepers they are referred to by the numerals39.

The props for the ladder are denoted by the numerals 32 and 34 and theyhave their upper ends 36 pivotally connected to the upper portions ofthe ladder stiles as shown best in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure i, the intermediate portions of the ladderstiles are provided with rigid adapter members 36-35 which are providedwith substantially L-shaped brackets 33' pivoted in place at it. Thesebrackets serve to accommodate extensible and retractible stay deviceswhich adjustably connect the props with the ladder. These devices aredenoted generally by the numerals 42-42. Each device comprises a link 44pivoted to the brackets 38 at 45. This link is apertured and slidablethrough a sleeve 48 on the complemental link 5t which is pivoted at 52directly to the prop, all as best shown in Figure 4. Link 50 is providedwith a spring 54 to which is attached a rectangular collar 56, saidcollar encircling the sleeve 43 in the manner shown in Figure 17 andsaid collar being provided with a latching pin 56 which fits selectivelyinto the apertures 66 of the link 46. This arrange ment allows thedevices 52 to be extended as shown at the right in Figure 4 orcontracted as shown at the left in the same figure. It is to be statedhere that these details have been described in particular to enable thereader to understand the construction. It is to be understood, however,that these stay devices are not claimed. In other words, insofar as theinvention is concerned, it has to do with an orchard ladder with propswhich are properly connected thereto and which are regulable so as torigidly support the ladder on uneven terrain.

Attention is now directed to the elevator-like attachment device whichis slidably harnessed on the ladder stiles. This, broadly speaking, isin the form of an open frame structure which is characterized inparticular by a pair of vertical spaced parallel substantially V-shapedend frames {iii-62 (see Fig. 2), said frames being hooked on said stilesand being connected together at 6 1 and at 66. There is anotherintermediate bar connection 68 which is a horizontal shelf. This shelfhas a keyhole slot therein as shown in Figure 11 with the circularportion of the slot denoted at ill and the restricted end portion at E2,to be later described. A plate 14 is secured fixedly to the upper endportion of the end frames by attaching ears 76 as shown in Figure 6.This plate has a central circular aperture l8 and said plate serves as afirst platform or as more conveniently described, a landing. The shelf68 is a support for the friction brake means which takes the form of ayoke 89 as shown at 82 in Figure 9. The intermediate portion is a brakeshoe 84 and this spans and has friction contact with the edges of theladder stiles. The lateral arm portions of the yoke 86 are provided withlateral inturned lugs 83 which constitute latching detents. Thesedetents normally engage with the keeper heads 36 in the manner shown inFigure 10 and thus the entire frame structure is held in a set or fixedposition. The surfaces 90 are canted or beveled so that when the framestructure is shoved from the lower end of the ladder (not shown) andshifted to an up position these surfaces Gil ratchet over the keeperheads 30, that is, they by-pass the keeper heads. In Figure 10, one ofthe detents is shown engaged with the keeper heads thus locking theframe structure in a set position. When the brake shoe is moved fromright to left in Figure 10 the detents are disengaged from the heads 30and the detents assume the dotted line position whereupon they may ridedown in the space between the respective pairs of heads as and 92. Thebrake shoe is provided with an opening of the shape shown in Figure 10,said opening denoted at and this opening registers with the keyhole slot10 in the shelf. Before discussing the operating connection of the brakeshoe it is desired now to take up what is called the rotatable andotherwise adjustable platform means which is supported from the landingplatform 14. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, this means ischaracterized by what is called an upright 94 which takes the form of atube. The upper end is open and provided with a flared mouth 9'6carrying a fixed hook 98 which may be used to accommodate the wire bailI of the bucket I02. In some instances it is desirable to use a bucketin the picking operation and the bail is engaged with the hook and thusthe bucket is supported on the tube 90. The lower end portion of thetube is conical and closed as at I04 and at the juncture of the bodyportion and cone there is a flange I05 and since the conical portionextends through the opening I8 in the fixed platform I4 a swivelconnection for the tube is had. It is to be noted that the body portionof the tube inclines in approximate parallelism with the ladder. Thelower end of the conical portion I04 has a sector-shaped rigid extensionI05 which is provided with a rib H3! which is projectible as shown indotted lines into the re stricted portion I2 of the keyhole slot toserve as a release. The adjacent portion of the cone, that is, theportion I I0 is extended down through the opening means 95 in the brakeshoe 84 where it affords an operating connection for the brake shoeusing the tube as a sort of a push-pull lever. In doing this the userstands on the landing platform '14 and catches hold the upper end of thetube and manipulates it in a manner to release the detent means 88 fromthe keeper heads 30 and to simultaneously apply the friction brake shoeto the stiles of the ladder. Therefore, the frame structure may beeither locked and held in locked position by the weight of the tube andother devices on the tube and may be released by the same means at whichtime the brake shoe is applied optionally to allow the frame structureto descend slowly and to carry the user down the ladder with the tube 94and other structure. The tube obviously serves as a collector orreceiver for the picked fruit and it is provided on its interior withflexible baffles or flaps II2 to prevent the fruit from dropping toospeedily or heavily into the tube. The entire tube is detachable fromthe platform 14 and other parts in an obvious manner so as to permit thecollected fruit to be emptied into another container (not shown).

The tube is rotatable on platform I4 and may also be rocked in adirection from left to right in Figure 1 at which time the flange I06constitutes a fulcrum. is the lever operation of the tube forcontrolling the brake. The conical por tion as shown in Figure '7 isprovided with aperture means to accommodate an insertable and removablelocking pin H4 held in place chain IIS and has a keying lug II8 whichfits through the aperture as shown in Figure 7. When the pin is in placethe entire tube means is thus fastened to the platform I4. By employingslight play between the pin I4 and platform 14 the latter may beprovided with recesses or keeper seats !Z2 and hence if the tube isturned about a vertical axis the pin II4 rests in one of these seats tohold the tube in an adjusted position, axially speaking.

A pickers platform of suitable size is provided and this is denoted bythe numeral I24 in Figures 1 and 3, for example. The platform isdetachable and adjustable and hinged. It has arm portions are whichstraddle the tube with upstanding terminals provided with hinging andretaining pins I 28 and thence pins fit into depressions I30 indented inthe body of the rigid tube.

This provides a separable and hinging connec-' tion for the platform andallows the platform to extend laterally from the tube where the userstraddles the tube and stands on the platform at the same time. This actof straddling the tube gives the user greater purchase while standing onthe platform I24 and avoids a. sense of falling. The tube extendsapproximately waisthigh so that the picker may drop the apples or otherfruit into the receptacle provided by said tube. A brace unit I32 isprovided and this is shown in Figure 15 where it includes spacedparallel members I34-I34 interconnected by rounds I36-I36. The lowerends have outstanding connecting studs I38-I38 and these studs areengaged in recesses provided. therefor in the furcation portionsI4IJ-I40 of the platform as shown in Figure 3 and detailed in Figure 14.The upper ends of the members I34 straddle the tube and are providedwith inturned studs I42-I42 and these studs are releasably engageable inindentations provided therefor at diametrically opposite sides of thetube as shown at I46 in Figure 1. This arrangement also makes theplatform I24 foldable which is shown in dotted lines in the same figureand the platform isfolded and held up on the hook means I48 so that itwill be in an out-of-the-way position when the entire device descendsthe ladder.. By providing other indentations I Si] in the upperdiametrically opposite side portions of the body of the tube $4 thesemay be used when the entire platform and suspension means I32 isdetached and moved from the low position shown in full lines andinverted and used in the elevated position as shown in dotted lines inthe same figure. This makes the platform means liftable and lowerableand increases the range of utility of the tube and platform means. Thetube may be provided in one side with a step I52 to help the user toclimb up the tube and take a position on the then elevated platform I24as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The latch pin 1 I4 has the double purpose of securing the tube meansswivelly to the landing platform 14 and also constitutes means whencoacting with the recesses I22 to lock the tube means and rovingplatform means I24 in one of the several positions to which the tubemeans is capable of being turned, thus enabling the platform I24 to beswun in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis and to be placed invarying picking positions to increase the range of activity of the user.The preferred positions are directly over the ladder and props, as isobvious.

The instant invention appreciably increases the usefulness of an orchardladder. First, the props make the ladder suitable for use on strangelycontoured and uneven ground, but what is more important, when theharnessed framework is up the ladder, the user simply steps off of 74andonto I24 and straddles the tube 94 as shown in phantom lines inFigure l. The fruit as picked is loaded into 94 and by stepping back onlanding 14, the pickers platform can be moved to other positions on tubeor folded to an out-of-the-way position, whereupon the detents 88 arereleased and the brake applied, permitting the picker and his load toride down the ladder and dump the load as he sees fit to do.

In considering the manner of use and operation it will be evident thatwhen the bridle-like frame structure is harnessed atop the ladder asshown in the drawings the same is held in'place acaaaca by the detents88 which are then engaged with the uppermost keeper heads 30 and thebrake 84 is'released (see Fig. 10). Also, the elements [05 and I01 arenormally in the full line positions seen in Figs. 10 and 11. Therefore,the tubular upright 94 is free to turn. To accomplish the turning resultthe picker stands, of course, on the landing platform 14 and catchinghold of upright 94 he rotates ituntil it may be conveniently lockedthrough the medium of the pin H4 and recess means I22 as is clear fromFig. '7. The brake 84 is applied and the detents simultaneously releasedonly when the rib I01 is lined up with and projected into its recess 12,which arrangement 'makes for requisite safeguarding control. Aspreviously set forth, so long as the rib I01 is out of alignment withthe slot restriction 12, the elements I05 and I! may rotate in theportion ll] of the keyhole-slot. When, however, the user decides todescend the ladder it becomes necessary to line the rib ID! with therestriction I2 whereupon the stated elements I and I0! are thenpermitted to shift from right to left (Fig. 11) and assume the dottedline positions. Now, the detents 88 may be released and the brake shoe84 may be shifted on shelf 68 (right to left) and applied either lightlyor strongly according to the requirements of the picker. A littlepractice will soon acquaint the picker with the steps which are to bepursued in handling the steps which are to be followed for fullyadvantageous use.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understandin of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and arrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. For use in enabling one to ascend to a given height above the groundand to then have changeable access to variously located fruit on a fruittree; a portable apparatus comprising, in combination, a self-standingorchard ladder, platform means above said ladder, and complemental meansadjustably connecting the platform means to the ladder in a mannerpermitting said platform means to be rotatably swung in a horizontalplane about a vertical axis, whereby to permit said platform means to besel ctively stationed i p dete m e positions of a c rc r p h f movemenan t iv th user a wide range of support without shifting the position ofthe'ladder relative to the ground, said complemental means embodying, asa component thereof, a receiver in which to gather fruit picked from thetree.

2, The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said lad er i p o ided wi hd stable props t steady the position of the ladder on uneven terram.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said complemental meansembodies an upright which is adapted to be straddled by the user andwhich, under the circumstances, affords the user fii ld id facilitieS t0Stabilize himself while stand ns on said, plat orm m n l r'ihe stru redefined in c aim 3. whe said upright is tubu ar and is o en at its topTherefore, a more lengthy 8 and has, the additional function of a fruitcollecting receiver.

5. For use in enabling'one to ascend to a given height above the groundand to then have changeable access to variously located fruit on a fruittree; a portable apparatus comprising, in combination, a self-standingorchard ladder, an upright swivelly mounted at its lower end atop saidladder and rising to a plane above the ladder, and a pickers platformsuspended in a horizontal position from said upright, the latterextending above the platform in a position to be straddled by the pickerwhile standing on the platform.

6. The structure defined in claim 5, wherein said platform is providedwith spaced arms straddling said upright and detachably and hingedlyjoined to said upright, whereby said platform is foldable against andtemporarily fastened to said upright whenever necessary or desired.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, wherein said platform is providedwith pivotallly connected braces which also straddle the upright, saidbraces being hingedly and detachably joined to said upright, saidplatform and braces, as a unit, being detachable and shiftable from alow to a high position on the upright, thereby enabling the picker toascend to a higher level where required, and means on said uprightjoining saidplatform and braces thereto when the latter are disposed insaid high positions.

8. The structure defined in claim 5, wherein said upright is a tubeclosed at the bottom and open at the top, whereby said tube constitutesa fruit collecting receiver. 7

9. For use in enabling one to ascend to a given height above the groundand to then have changeable access to variously located fruit on a fruittree; a portable apparatus comprising, in combination, a self-standingorchard ladder, a rigid tube closed at its bottom and open at its top,means swivelly and detachably mounting the lower portion of said tubeatop said ladder, said means being slidably mounted on the verticalstiles of said latter, a horizontal pickers platform hingedly anddetachably connected to the lower portion of said tube, the upper openend of said tube projecting to a waist-high elevation above saidplatform being in a position central to the latter and thus adapted tobe straddled by the picker when standing on said platform and providinga convenient fruit collecting receptacle and also a satisfactory supportfor the picker.

10. For use in enabling one to ascend to a given height above the groundand to then have change able access to variously located fruit on afruit tree; a portable apparatus comprising, in com bination, aself-standing orchard ladder, a first platform embodying means slidablyand adjust; ably mounted on the stiles of said ladder, said platformbeing thus adapted to descend the ladder in a step-by-step manner withthe picker standing thereon, a second fruit pickers platform disposed ina plane above said first platform, a rigid tube open at the top andclosed at thebottom, said tube being swivelly and detachably mounted onsaid first platform and rising to a plane above the latter, andattaching and hinging means operatively connecting said second platformto said tube.

11. For use in enabling one to ascend to a given height above the groundand to then have changeable access to variously located fruit on a fru ttree; a portable apparatus comprising, in combination, a self-standingorchard ladder, a

frame structure slidably mounted on said ladder and adapted to eitherascend or descend the ladder, a first platform fixed on said framestructure, upright means swivelly mounted on and rising vertically fromsaid first platform, said upright means being rigid and hollow, and asecond platform foldably mounted on said upright means.

12. The structure defined in claim 11, and a friction brake operativelymounted on said frame structure and having releasable detent meanscooperable with stops on the stiles of said ladder, and means wherebysaid upright means serves to apply and release said brake.

13. For use in enabling one to ascend to a given height above the groundand to then have changeable access to variously located fruit on a fruittree; a portable apparatus comprising, in combination, a self-standingorchard ladder having vertical spaced parallel stiles, a frame structurehaving vertical spaced parallel end frames slidable up and down on thestiles of said ladder, said end frames having hooked arms slidablyharnessed on said stiles, a friction brake shoe operatively mounted onsaid frame structure and engageable with said stiles, keepers fixed onsaid stiles, said brake shoe having detents selectively and releasablyengageable with said keepers, and a platform carried by said framestructure.

14. The structure defined in claim 13, and means carried by saidplatform for applying and releasing said brake, said means embodying anupright.

15. The structure defined in claim 13, and means carried by saidplatform for applying and releasing said brake, said means embodying anupright, said upright being a rigid tube open at its top and closed atits bottom, said tube being rockably and detachably mounted on saidplatform.

16. The structure defined in claim 15, and a folding platform pivotallyand detachably mounted on said tube.

17. An attachment for an orchard ladder comprising a frame structurehaving means whereby the same may be slidably harnessed on the stiles ofsaid ladder, and friction brake means operatively mounted on said framestructure and including a projectible and retractible brake shoe adaptedto span and engage said stiles, and a platform fixed atop said framestructure, a rigid tube closed at its lower end and open. at its upperend, the lower end portion of said. tube being swivelly, detachably andpivotally mounted on said platform, the extreme lower end portion ofsaid tube having operating connection with said brake shoe, and afolding platform carried by said tube and situated in a plane above saidfirstmentioned platform.

HUBERT TIDWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 152,013 Seeburger June 16, 1874 1,526,654 Yordy Feb. 17, 1925FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26.527 Austria Nov. 26, 1906

